About Us
The Coalition for Public Access (CPA) was organized to defend against the ever increasing efforts to restrict access and use of public lands in Esmeralda, Douglas, Lyon, and Mineral Counties, Nevada. CPA opposes the unnecessary and unjustified creation of new Wilderness Areas when the area(s) under consideration do not meet the wilderness criteria as defined in the Wilderness Act of 1964. CPA does support conservation and preservation when the facts warrant such protection. In the past several years, environmental organizations, environmental lobbyists, and politicians with environmental agendas have pushed congress and public land managers to apply extreme measures to close public lands to many recreational and commercial uses. It is this continuous loss of access and use of public lands, to the agendas of special interests, that jeopardizes the recreational and commercial uses that most Americans have enjoyed for decades. For more information visit the About Us page.
Our Mission: To promote safe and responsible use of our public lands. To keep local citizens informed of activites or actions that may unnecessarily prohibit or restrict mulitple uses of our public lands. To inform and educate local citizens as to the harm that will be caused to our communities, economy, environment, culture, way of life, and heritage that will result from actions or activities that unnecessarily prohibit or restrict mulitple uses of our public lands. To actively organize participation in activities or actions to protect our right to have access to and multiple uses of our public lands.
BLM starts process to Revise the local Resource Management Plan
The BLM - Carson City District (Sierra Front & Stillwater field offices) initiated a project to revise the district's Resource Management Plan (RMP). The RMP is all encompassing and defines issues, mitigating actions, motorized routes, long term land use directions, etc. The process allows for public participation which is essential to protect access rights to these public lands.
The first phase of the project is "Scoping" which defines the issues and/or topics that are to be evaluated. The public can submit comments until April 29, 2012. The BLM will hold Public Meetings beginning March 13, 2012 where the public can ask questions and provide written comments.
Schedule of Public Meetings - Scoping Phase
Current Resource Management Plan (2001)
BLM project website (Very useful resource for information)
Burbank Canyon to become a WILDERNESS area in Smith Valley
In February 2012 the Douglas County Board of County Commissioners approved the framework of a Lands Bill and authorized staff and consultants to move foreward to draft a bill for submission to the Nevada Congressional Delegation. The bill will include the designation of the Burbank Canyon Wilderness Study Area as a Wilderness Area. While Douglas County neither prepared nor presented a study to justify the creation of a 12,000 plus acre wilderness area and over the objections of CPA and others, the County Commissioners acted to include a wilderness component in their Lands Bill.
CPA has published three eAlerts regarding this action:
Burbank Canyon to become a WILDERNESS area in Smith Valley (December 1, 2011)
Burbank Canyon to become a WILDERNESS - UPDATE (January 8, 2012)
Burbank Canyon to become a WILDERNESS - UPDATE #2 - TIME FOR ACTION (January 31, 2012)
Forest Service - Bridgeport Ranger District
FS and Center for Biological Diversity reach Settlement
The Center for Biological Diversity (CBD) had filed a lawsuit (CBD's Press Release) in a Federal District Court challenging the recently adopted Travel Management Plan (TMP) for the Bridgeport Ranger District (BRD). The lawsuit alleges the BRD violated the National Environmental Policy Act, the National Forest Management Act, the Administrative Procedure Act, two Presidential Executive Orders, and certain implementing regulations. In January 2012 the FS and CBD entered into a Stipulated Agreement to settle the lawsuit. The major elements of the settlement are:
- On or before September 30, 2015, the FS shall complete a new Travel Analysis.
- On or before January 30, 2012 the FS agrees to publish a Scoping Notice inviting public comment on whether or not changes should be made to the March 2010 Travel Management Plan Record of Decision.
- On or before November 15, 2012 the FS will determine whether or not to propose actions to modify the TMP of March 2010.
- If actions to modify the TMP of March 2010 are proposed then on or before May 14, 2014 the FS will issue a Final Environmental Impact Statement and Record of Decision.
- Routes 42196, 42196B, 22285, 22286, 22464, and 42808 will be seasonally closed from March 1 to May 15 each year to provide additional sage grouse habitate protection. The annual closures shall remain in effect until the FS determines that there would be no adverse effects by not implementing these seasonal closures.
- The FS will pay the Center for Biological Diversity $9,000.
Forest Service Seeks Input on District’s Roads and Trails
The Forest Service - Bridgeport Ranger District announced the opportunity for public input to modify and correct the current roads and trails system. CPA has identified several issues with the current Motor Vehicle Use Map (the official document authorizing use of specific roads and trails) and the list of authorized routes. The period for public comment is open until October 1, 2012. To ensure that the roads and trails that have been historically used to access the public land remain open the public must participate in the process.